Memorial Tournament 2012

As mentioned on twitter (@birdieclubtips), I see the Wales Open this week as being very open and dont see value at the head of the betting. Alex Noren is a favourite of mine, played well during the week to qualify for the US Open and is the defending champion. He is currently 20/1 having been 33/1 on Monday but 2 decent rounds at Walton Heath to qualify for Olympic Club dont really instill "form" and therefore I am gonna pass this week. Jamie Donaldson might just be inspired to do well this week as a home player and Miguel Angel Jiminez has the credentials to see off this field and the Spaniard would be my pick if forced to have a bet here. However, over in Ohio I think the Jack Nicklaus hosted Memorial presents better value even though this is just as open. It may be just as open due to the quality assembled, Luke Donald & Rory McIlroy tee it up here with the Irishman looking to get back on track following two consecutive missed cuts. He did miss the cuts on two courses that he doesn't like so they can be discounted but he's still too skinny at 14/1. Also teeing it up is Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson,Rickie Fowler, Justin Rose ,Stricker, Bubba & Adam Scott.

I am growing to be a fan of Webb Simpson's, very consistent and is sure to challenge again this week. he is my first pick and the experince gained in winning over the past 12 months will help his quest here. at 35/1 with Betpack (paying 6 places) he is a must for me this week.

 Hunter Mahan started the season very consistently but has dropped off a little bit lately. That said, he is definitely one for the bigger occasions and he could just just string it together this week and attention focusses on the big tournaments including the aforementioned US Open in a couple of weeks. Mahan is available at 40/1 with Paddypower and just about gets a bite from me this week over Jason Day at the same odds.

My third selection is taking a chance on Bill Haas at 80/1. They say you need experience and the younger lads are not potential winners here but Haas has a good head on them shoulders. His game when on song is up there with the rest of them. Afterall I did say this is a quality field and the 80s are very generous for someone who does have a good approach game, a big plus for this course.

TIP 1: 1 pt e/w W.Simpson @ 35/1 Betpack

TIP 2: 1 pt e/w H,Mahan @ 40/1 Paddypower

TIP 3: 1 pt e/w B.Haas @ 80/1 Paddypower

BMW PGA Championship 2012

Once again I'm stuck for time this week so please note I have put up selections on twitter (@birdieclubtips) for the BMW PGA at Wentworth. TIP 1: 1 pt e/w J.Rose @ 22/1 TIP 2: 1 pt e/w S.Lowry @ 80/1 TIP 3: 1 pt /w R.Fisher @ 80/1

Players Championship 2012

All 4 picks missed the cut last week in Seville. Very disappointing. Can mean only one thing, we simply have to find the elusive winner soon and a change from the European Tour to the USPGA often tends to do the trick. Not a hard call to make though as the Madeira Island Open is simply a lottery this week with a very weak field assembled. I was tempted to back Simon Wakefield there but it really could go to anyone so the excitement on offer at Sawgrass grabs the attention this week. In stark contrast to Madeira, the Pete Dye designed Florida course attarcts a very strong field where only Bubba Watson is missing from the World's Top 10. Rory upset the Americans last year by not playing here but they will be looking forward to seeing the Irishman this week who has been in scintillating form this season and having just been beaten in a play-off at Quail Hollow last Sunday, he will be drawing a lot of attention again this week. Its hard to ignore Rory given the form that he is in, but this strong field does give us some real good value.

I'll start of by picking Rory's compatriot, Graeme McDowell who has been playing very well the past couple of months and is the type of player that excels when confidence is high. He comes here fresh and has a good record at Sawgrass and could have won last year. The 66 /1 on offer is just too big and with 6 places on offer this week with most bookies he has to be on my staking plan.

Martin Kaymer is too big at 60/1 with Bet365. The German will like sawgrass and his iron play will serve him well here. He is due another big performance and indeed won the USPGA Championship at Whistling Straits, a Pete Dye course.

Another player who has been in sparkling form is of course Louis Oosthuizen. Runner up at Augusta bfore winning in Malaysia, his tee to green play has been excellent this season and is showing not only the temperament for these big events but seems to be enjoying them too. 40/1 is just about right and worth taking with Paddypower.

My fourth selection is Adam Scott, a previous winner here. I stated earlier in the year that he was looking to a good season and although he has not played an awful lot has shown signs he can post some good scores. If the long putter clicks he will be there or thereabouts. Again 40/1 with Ladbrokes with 6 places on offer.

I am tempted to back Tiger Woods at 25/1.....smashing price despite his mediocre form at Sawgrass. I'm only begining to look at trading on the exchanges and feel this is a trade worth investigating this week. If he gets a decent score on Thursday this price is bound to plummet and therefore create a trade for profit. My only worry is that I'm not sure if it will plummet enough to cover all bets and lock in profit etc but its a trade I will experiment this week.(The trades will need to be studid for m to be able to assess how I think the market will react but I presume with Tiger it will cause a shift if he opens with a 68 or something)

My fifth selection this week, afterall this is the "5th Major" is a 1 pt /w on Padraig Harrington at 110/1 with Betpack. Just a crazy price for the Dubliner who is about to click having shown good performances already this season including a top 10 at the Masters. If the driver behaves he can scramble for the scores which is good to have here on this course.

TIP 1 1 pt e/w G.McDowell @ 66/1 Bet365

TIP 2 1 pt e/w M.Kaymer @ 60/1 Bet365

TIP 3 1 pt e/w L.Oosthuizen @ 40/1 Bet365

TIP 4 1 pt e/w A.Scott @ 40/1 Ladbrokes

TIP 5 1 pt e/w P.Harrington @ 110/1 Betpack

Open de Espana 2012

Marcus Fraser provided some place money last week for the blog so hopefully the much awaited winner is not too far way. The Open de Espana return to the Real Club de Golf de Sevilla this week where Alvaro Quiros won 2 years ago. This week is the 100th staging of the event and coincides with the first anniversary of Seve's death. With a lot of rain having fallen the past couple of weeks the course looks set to play long which immediately suggests that Quiros comes into the reckoning. The 6 time winner on tour may get his best results in the Middle East but he cannot be discounted this week despite a lack of form in 2012 as he has won this event and the Portugal Masters in the past suggesting he does have form in the Iberian Peninsula. The 25/1 on offer with Paddypower is worth taking for an event that he will be excited about.

Second selection this week is Alex Noren.He is starting to show form and the long course will suit him this week. When Noren hits form he tends to be streaky and the 30/1 with Betpack is great value for a player hitting form after a slow start to the season.

My third selection this week is George Coetzee. I tipped him last week and he finished T7th just one shot away from a placing. He is very consistnt and that elusive win is not far away and I have to keep him on the staking plan for the time being.

I am taking a fourth pick this week, only because one of my favourites, Ross Fisher has shown glimpses lately that he is nearing his best again.(would hate to miss out !) He finished well last Sunday and hopefully he will come here in confidence following a good showing in Korea. 50/1 with Boylesports is decent value for a player that click any week soon.

TIP 1: 1 pt e/w A.Quiros @ 25/1 Paddypower

TIP 2: 1 pt e/w A.Noren @ 30/1 Betpack

TIP 3: 1 pt e/w G.Coetzee @ 25/1 Paddypower

TIP 4: 1 pt e/w R.Fisher @ 50/1 Boylesports

Ballantines Championship 2012

I dropped Alex Noren from my staking plan last week and he put in a good showing ! thats the frustration of golf betting, knowing what week to strike. He does come back into the reckoning this week as we have yet another tough course in Korea. Adam Scott I wanted to back but the price is just too short. That should pave the way now for the Aussie to go on and win !
There is one player that could just strike this week as he has been contending very well lately and will be well suited to the tough conditions and the fact that he is South African could help as his compatriots are cleaning up all round him lately. Branden Grace won his 3rd event this season last week, following Louis Oosthuizen's victory in Malaysia and it could be a hat-trick if George Coetzee can progress from a bold effort last week. he is on offer at 28/1 with Betpack which is decent value in this field.

Marcus Fraser always seems to go well in this part of the world and he put in a decent effort last week following a Missed Cut the week before. Ultra consistent and sure to win soon, he is selected this week over Noren as my second selection. 40/1 with Bet365.

My third selection is Oliver Wilson. Its been awhile since he clocked up all those runner-up placing a few seasons ago, but he is striking the ball so well lately he cannot be dismissed. He was 1st in GIR last week.He has also tweeted this week that he thinks its time to use his belly putter this week and if he does, it may just get the ball rolling into the hole for those all too important birdies. At a very big 150/1, he is on the staking plan this week.

TIP 1: 1 pt e/w G.Coetzee @ 28/1 Betpack


TIP 2: 1 pt e/w M.Fraser @ 40/1 Bet365


TIP 3: 1 pt e/w O.Wilson @ 150/1 Betpack